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AFL Hall of Fame adds White Sox's Konerko

AFL Hall of Fame adds White Sox's Konerko

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Arizona Fall League |

PHOENIX -- Prolific Chicago White Sox first
baseman Paul Konerko becomes the 27th member of the
Arizona Fall League's Hall of Fame on Saturday during
pre-game ceremonies at Salt River Fields at Talking
Stick.

Konerko, 35, who played for the 1996 Sun Cities
Solar Sox, is a five-time American League
All-Star and the 2004 A.L. Comeback Player of the Year.

In 2011, the Scottsdale, Ariz. native, resident
and Chaparral High School graduate reached the
30-home run, 100-RBI milestone for the fifth time,
hitting .300 with 25 doubles, 31 home runs and 105
RBI in 149 games.

He has hit 30-plus home runs seven times, batted .300 or
better four times, and recorded 100-plus RBI on six
occasions.

In 2005, Konerko was named ALCS MVP and shortly
thereafter became the first player in World Series
history to hit a grand slam in the seventh inning or
later that turned a deficit into a lead.

Konerko ranks second in White Sox history with 389
home runs, 757 extra-base hits and 1,232 RBI and
third with 360 doubles. He also owns the club record
with 12 seasons of 20 or more home runs and is tied
with new White Sox manager Robin Ventura for most
grand slams in club history (10). Konerko also has
made 11 consecutive Opening Day starts at first
base, another club record.

He and Frank Thomas are the only two players in
White Sox history to hit 40 home runs in
back-to-back seasons. Konerko accomplished the feat
in 2004-05.

Konerko was named the Baseball America Minor League
Player of the Year in 1997.

Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame: The Arizona Fall
League, founded in 1992, formed its Hall of Fame in
2001 to honor the top Major League players and
managers who honed their skills in the AFL. The
inductions of the Phillies' Ryan Howard and Konerko increase the
Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame to 28 members.

The selection committee, chaired by baseball
ambassador Roland Hemond, the "Architect of the
Arizona Fall League," bases its appointments upon
individual achievement at the Major League level
since participating in the Arizona Fall League.